Benner’s Prophecies of Future Ups and Downs in Prices: What Years to Make Money on Pig-iron, Hogs, Corn and Provisions

Benner’s Prophecies of Future Ups and Downs in Prices by Samuel Benner, first published in 1876, is a seminal work on market cycles. Benner, an Ohio farmer who suffered financial ruin during the 1873 panic, analyzed historical price trends of commodities like pig iron, hogs, corn, and provisions. He identified recurring cycles of “panic,” “good times,” and “hard times,” providing forecasts for optimal investment periods. His work influenced later market theorists and remains a notable early attempt at economic forecasting.